Distributor



Dec. 16, 1952 c, p, BRQOKS 2,622,162

DISTRIBUTOR Filed Aug. 24, 1950 IN VEN TOR.

og R oLp P. BROOKS Patented Dec. 16, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISTRIBUTOR Carroll P. Brooks, Philadelphia, Pa. Application August 24, 1950, Serial No. 181,140

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a distributor and more particularly to the type of distributor employed in the ignition system of a motor vehicle.

It is well known that in the operation of internal combustion engines of the type employed in the operation of motor vehicles, that the distributor points become fouled, dirty and pitted. These conditions are frequently brought about by the fact that the points are generally so arranged that the fiat surface of the movable point moves in an arc which is intersected by the flat sur face of the stationary point, so that the entire areas of the breaker points merely contact with one another without effecting relative interfacial movement. Since there is no relative movement of the points during their interfacial contact, any dirt, grease or the like that may adhere to the contact surfaces of the breaker points, not only tends to prevent proper contact of the points, but also frequently causes pitting of the points.

The primary object of this invention is to remove from the breaker points of a conventional distributor any foreign substances which might tend to impair proper contact and produce poor operation or pitting of the points.

Another object is to establish relative movement between the contact faces of the breaker points during a portion of the advance and retraction of the movable breaker point with relation to its cooperating breaker point.

The above and other objects may be attained by employing this invention which embodies among its features mounting the breaker points of a conventional distributor for relative interfacial movement during a portion of the advance and retraction of the movable breaker point into contact with its cooperating breaker point.

Other features include mounting the movable breaker point for movement in an arcuate path which is intersected by the cooperating breaker point which is mounted for movement by the :1 mounting in place therein;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the mounting for the normally stationary breaker point;

Figure 3 is an edge view of the mounting illustrated in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 3-4 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed view illustrating schematically the relative movement of the parts during the operation of the distributor.

Referring to the drawings in detail a distributor designated generally [0 is equipped with a conventional rotary cam [2 which is conventionally surrounded by a base plate Hi on which the distributor points are mounted. The plate it carries a pivot pin IS on which is mounted for rocking movement an arm I8 carrying a conventional breaker point 20. The arm I8 is provided with a laterally extending strip 22 of insulating material which rides on the surface of the cam [2 to cause the arm i8 to intermittently move against the effort of a. conventional spring 24 which is anchored at one end to the distributor I0 and at its opposite end to the arm l8. The structure so far described is conventional with distributors of the type to which this ing screw 28 by means of which the arm of what advance of the first mentioned breaker point in a curved path which intersects the path of movement of the first mentioned breaker point.

Still other features include mounting on the conventional breaker supporting arm of a distributor a substantially U-shaped yoke, supporting by the yoke a yielding means in the form of a bowed spring having one end disposed in the path of movement of the movable breaker point of the distributor and supporting on the arm of said spring in the path of movement of the movable breaker point a second breaker point which moves in a curved path as the movable breaker point moves which curved path intersects the is normally the stationary breaker point is adjustably coupled to the plate M. In place of the 5 conventional arm which normally supports the stationary breaker point of a conventional distributor I0 I substitute an arm 30 which is equipped adjacent one end with an opening 32 for the reception of the pivot pin 16, intermediate its ends with an elongated opening 34 for the reception of the eccentric screw 26 and adjacent the end remote from the opening 32 a transversely extending arcuate slot 36 through which the locking screw 28 extends. The arm 30 is also provided with a lateral extension 38 carrying at its end remote from the arm 30 a post 4Q 3 which is formed with an internally screw threaded opening for the reception of a screw 42 upon which is carried the yoke for supporting my improved breaker point.

The yoke above referred to comprises a substantially U-shaped body 44 having a bight portion 46 from which extend legs 48 and 56. The leg 48 is pierced to receive the supporting screw 42 and is clamped in proper position on said screw by suitable nuts 52. A bowed spring 54 has one leg 56 thereof pierced to receive the screw 52, while the opposite leg 56 projects beyond the leg 50 of the yoke 44 and carries breaker point 60 which as illustrated in Figure 1 lies in the path of movement of the breaker point 20 carried by the arm IS. A suitable bridge piece 62 is pierced to receive the screw 42 and is clamped against the post 40 by a suitable nut 64. This bridge piece is provided adjacent its end remote from the post 40 with a notch 66 for the reception of the bowed spring 54 and the yoke 46 as will be readily understood upon reference to Figure 4.

Threaded through the leg 50 of the yoke 44 is an adjusting or stop screw 68 which is locked in adjusted position by a conventional lock nut after the inner end of said screw 68 has been moved into the desired position to bear against the leg 58 of the spring 54 and hold the breaker point 60 in the desired position.

As illustrated in Figure 5 the breaker point 20 carried by the arm it moves in an arcuate path A as defined by the dot and dash lines, while the breaker point 60 moves in a curved path B defined by the double dot and dash lines. It will thus be seen that as the breaker point 20 advances toward the breaker point 66, relative rubbing movement will be effected between the contacting faces of the breaker points so as to remove dirt, grease and other foreign matter which may collect there- In operation as the cam l2 rotates, it will be evident that the high points thereon will cause the arm [8 to move under the influence of the spring 24 to cause the breaker point 20 to move in the arcuate path A illustrated in Figure 5. Owing to the fact that the breaker point 60 is yieldingly mounted on the arm 58 of the spring 54 which is less powerful than the spring 24, it will be evident that as the breaker point 20 advances into contact with the breaker point 60, both points will move under the influence of the spring 24 and since they are not moving in the same arcuate path, it will be evident that a rubbing action will occur between the abutting faces of the breaker points. As the cam 12 continues its rotation, it will be evident that the arm I8 will be moved against the effort of the spring 24 and its breaker point 26 will be moved out of contact with the breaker point 60. The exact timing of the contact of the breaker points 20 and 60 may be regulated by adjusting the screw 68, or by. loosening the screw 28, and

rotating the eccentric screw 26 to move the arm 30 about the pivot l6. With the parts properly adjusted it is obvious that as the arm [8 moves about the pivot IS, the breaker point 20 thereof will advance into and out of contact with the breaker point 60 and by permitting the breaker point 60 to move under the influence of the spring 24 in a curved path which is different from the arcuate path of movement of the breaker point 20, it is evident that a rubbing action on the faces of the breaker points will be effected which will keep them clean and free from deposits of dirt, grease and the like and hence materially improve the operation of the distributor and reduce to a minimum the tendency of the points to pit.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred form of this invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

In a distributor, including the actuating cam and the cylindrical casing thereof, a contact unit comprising a flat elongated plate Within/the casing and secured on the bottom thereof, a pivot rising from one end of the plate, a breaker arm having one end engaged on the pivot, a contact point carried at the opposite end of the arm, an extension projecting laterally from the plate intermediate its ends, a substantially U-shaped yoke mounted on said extension and having one leg shorter than the other, a length of steel spring housed within the yoke and conforming to shape of the same with one of its end portions projecting beyond the end of the said shorter leg, a contact point on the outer side of the said one end portion of the spring for cooperation with the first contact point, an 'adjusting screw carried by the said shorter leg of the yoke and bearing against the said one end portion of the spring to vary the make and break relation of the con-1 tact points, and a second spring cooperative with the breaker arm to urge the same in a direction to place the contact point carried thereby in contacting relation with the second contact point, Said e k rm bein n ermi entl actuat d by the distributor cam against the tension of the second spring to break contact betweenthe. said contact points.

C OL P. BROOKS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of 6 record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 878,176 Almy Feb. 4, 1908. 1,436,693 Borger Nov. 28,192. 2,070,072 Varela Feb. 9., 1937: 2,294,573 Potter Sept. 1, 1943; 

